The Reforms to accelerate Canadian citizenship applications could reveal an increase in the number of Hong Kong residents to immigrate to Canada, according to a consultant.

With the Canadian new immigration law that was approved in June and in effect from 01 August 2014, the processing time of Canadian citizenship applications will come down to one year from two to three years by the end of 2015.

As per the old rules, officers of citizenship had to evaluate the applications and arrange them for citizenship judge to either accept or reject. They were sent back to officers to approve citizenship or suggest an appeal of the decision given by the Judge.

With effect from 01 August 2014, if the officer feels that the applicant has not satisfied the residency requirement then his or her application will be turned to judges of citizenship for decision.

However, Judges will be in charge of citizenship ceremonies and managing the vow of citizenship, a concluding step prior to the grant of citizenship.